British Preservative Party leader Margaret Hatchet gives her views on Ireland and the Irish.

A Hall’s Pictorial Weekly sketch featuring Mrs Margaret Hatchet, Leader of the Preservative Party talking about the Irish and emigration.

"I am leader of the Preservative Party and nobody dares to tell me to tell them anything."

Mrs Hatchet, played by Paul Murphy, describes the Irish as;

"Quite civil people on the whole considering where they come from. Being white is a big mark in their favour. Otherwise, they would be quite unendurable."

Eamon Andrews and Terry Wogan as quite delightful people who could pass as British if it weren’t for their American accents. Patrick Cosgrove is a credit to the Hibernian race.

"Vote Preservative - Keep Britain British"

The reporter, played by Pat Daly, quizzes Mrs Hatchet about her views on plans to attract British tourists to Ireland. She is more than happy for immigrants to visit Ireland and never return to Britain.

Frank Kelly plays RTÉ newsreader Michael Murphy.

This episode of ‘Hall’s Pictorial Weekly’ was broadcast on 26 April 1978.

Frank Hall’s amusing and satirical series began on 29 September 1971 with the full title ‘Hall’s Pictorial Weekly Incorporating the Provincial Vindicator’ which became known as ‘Hall’s Pictorial Weekly’. The series allowed Frank Hall to follow his own interest in the lives of viewers throughout the country.

Regarded as RTE’s flagship comedy show, it featured satirical sketches on current news stories and popular culture, as well as parody songs, comedy sketches, re-edited videos, cartoons and spoof television formats. The show ran for 9 series until 1980.

In the RTÉ Guide on the week of its first transmission, Frank Hall wrote;

"The form and content of Hall’s Pictorial Weekly should be impossible to forecast until the last moment. It should be as varied and absorbing as life itself."